The San Antonio Spurs have stolen Game One of the NBA Finals and in the process Tony Parker is showing the world why he was a legit MVP candidate in the regular season. Parker took over the fourth quarter and gave the Spurs the push they needed to win the game. Parkerâ€™s stats were not outstanding (21 points and 6 assists), but his timing could not have been better.

Parker showed his intangibles in a game where the Spurs needed him most. He was not afraid to take the big shot when the game got tight--including memorable circus at the end of the shot clock. He also helped control the backcourt and took care of the basketball, having zero turnovers for the game. He set the tone for the rest of team which only had four turnoversâ€”a NBA Finals record.

Parkerâ€™s penetration in the paint was relentless and he provided open jump shots for his teammates, especially Danny Green. Green made a game high four three-pointers for the Spurs. The team as a whole only shot 30% from the beyond the arc, so Greenâ€™s contributions were huge. Parker has made a consistent effort to get the ball into his hands, expect that trend to continue.

The Miami Heat tried to counter Parker by putting LeBron James on him at the end of the game, but Parkerâ€™s aggression did not wavier. He remained composed and efficient despite having Jamesâ€™ defensive size on him. Parker usually folds against bigger defenders but his game has obviously evolved beyond that. He has become a capable passer not relying solely on his scoring capabilities.

Some fans and experts feel that Parkerâ€™s Finals MVP in 2007 was a fluke, but in the first game of the 2013 NBA Finals he is picking up where he left off six years ago.